2011 - Goals Reflection

I set a pile of goals for myself in January of 2011. Now, I need to assess what I've done.

These were my 2011 goals:

1. Lose baby weight sensibly.
-Well, I'm not as heavy as I was last January. I have been able to go down a few pants sizes. However, there's more work to be done. Hopefully, when Claire is weaned, I will be back to my happy medium

2. Eat more vegetables.
-I think we did this. I tried hard to say "yes" to the side salad and "no" to the fries... didn't always work out.

3. Vacuum more.
-It helped that we bought a snazzy new vacuum last Boxing Day so, this was easy!

4. Cloth diapers both kiddies and potty-train the Schmoo.
-Both kids are in cloth diapers most days. They get disposables at the sitter's. Simon wears underwear 40% of his life. He'd be potty-trained if we operated on my will-power alone. Unfortunately, I have a head-strong toddler who'll figure it out eventually. (I have a feeling Claire will be trained soon after Simon so, this may be my last year of diapers... fingers crossed.)

5. Nap every so often - because I can.
-And I do! Yesterday, I had a good solid afternoon nap. This should be everyone's goal! :)

6. Find another cool concert to go to with my honey.
-Can't say we did this unless the free concert in the park on Canada Day counts. I need to try again on this one!

7. Recycle more... buy less.
-Still working on this. It's hard to back out of consumerism in a consumerist society but, we are trying.

8. Create practical items and gifts to reuse.
-Did this! My gift bags rocked! I loved making capes for the kids. The owls for Claire's B-day favours were a hit. I have a few plans for 2012... as long as I get some time to sew!

9. Have more family dance parties.
-This was pretty easy. Both kids have some pretty stellar baby moves. I don't want to talk about their parents.

10. Take the family on more travel adventures.
-Ottawa was awesome. It was a big risk and it paid off! Our Clear Lake/Winnipeg trip was pretty awesome too. I can't see us getting too far in 2012 but, we'll venture somewhere this coming summer.

On the go

... and she's on the move. She's a little tentative but determined. Look out world; Claire is on the loose!

Boxing Day

After an extravaganza of delicious food, thoughtful gifts, snuggles, fancy dresses and family time, it's so nice just to have a quiet, at home day. Our only venture out was to go and visit our "Someday House" and a short walk when the kids wake up. Forget about braving the crazy Boxing Day sales, I have all I need right here! (Besides, we bought our Boxing Day washer/dryer combo online.)
Hope all was merry and bright for you and yours!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Our 3 day Christmas fiesta begins tomorrow morning. I can hardly wait!
Enjoy your friends, families, food and fun!

Teacher Gifts

Since 2002, I have been happily teaching kids. I can count a dozen high schoolers who bought me a Christmas gift. Each time, the gift was thoughtful and it meant something for that student to go out of his or her way to give me something.
This year, I am a e. school teacher. Today, I received my first "teacher gifts". Some parents were very thoughtful and generous. For others, I wish I could tell them "you shouldn't have" because really, they shouldn't have. Although, I am now the owner of snowmen salt and pepper shakers.
Seriously, if you have to give something tangible, coffee, chocolates, homemade baking is nice. I got a Chapters gift card that I am super excited about. However, I'd rather that you go to a site like this and use your money to give someone something meaningful. I'm sure that after a few years of teaching, e. school teachers have a rather large collection of mugs and would prefer your money going elsewhere. I know that I sure would!

Recovering

Today, we're on the mend.
In the past few weeks, we've experienced the stomach flu and then Round #2 of the stomach flu. Basically, this meant comforting barfy babies in the middle of the night multiple times, changing their sheets multiple times and then disinfecting myself multiple times. This also affected childcare... blech! I don't wish any of that on any of you.
I think we're better. (Fingers crossed). We're all a little extra sleepy and whiny and clingy and lacking appetite but, I haven't had to deal with any adverse bodily fluids since Friday.
On the same note, I finished Christmas baking (at my Mom's - away from my petri dish of a home). Last week, we baked all Saturday with the ladies from Trev's family. This past Saturday, we baked all Saturday with the ladies from my family. Needless to say, my freezer is FULL!
I finished stuffing gifts into the Christmas cloth bags that I made and I've decided that I'm a genius. Wrapping was uber slick! I really recommend this neat trick to all of you who feel crafty (straight-line sewing; if I can manage, so can you).
Next up on my countdown to Christmas list: elementary school Christmas concert. Eeeek! Good thing I really have nothing to do with it sauf showing up and doing crowd control. Simon's Sunday School concert is this weekend and I'm pretty pumped.
After that, I have cards to get in the mail, my contribution to 2 Christmas dinners to make, stockings to wrap and stuff and I think I'm done.
What do you have left to do on your Christmas list?

Welcome Christmas

I love December. I love advent and the focus on Christ's arrival into the world. I love baking with my favorite ladies (and, do we bake!). I love setting up the tree, drinking "Snowman milk", eating all the above-mentioned baking, planning for and shopping for surprises to put under the tree. I love all the get togethers with special people and late night cheer. It's been a blast introducing my kiddos to the Christmas spirit.
New to my Christmas traditions will be my first elementary school Christmas concert since 1993 (good thing the Arts Ed. teacher is in charge and not me). Also, this year will be Simon's first Sunday School concert. We're all practiced up but, I do anticipate a frozen little boy who won't know what to do at all... along with the rest of his class. I love that!
I've also concluded that we do SchoolLite in December in elementary schools. I'm not experiencing the project/paper marking marathon by Christmas tree lights that I'm used to. I do, however, have to carefully tread the landmines of grade 6 girls as I prepare Secret Santa for our class. (I am also choosing not to do any holiday themed bulletin boards because, really, do we have to?)